New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-10-26
FIRST READING BYCHARLES DICKENS

Tho hands uIon the dat of time were rolled lack
many wears last night for the great and brillan,
multitude Of spectators that crowded into Chckcrna
Hall to hear the first reading Of Charles ID 4rns
Every seat I'm the house was filed. and oven the lla
form was throngcd with spectators: and when Mr.
Dickens after an Introductory address c0qIem
earnest humorous and fclictous, by Mr.. ,hauncey NJ
Dcpew. arose to speak, the cnhl-a-m If the people
burt forth In repeated clamCs 80 that u vas long
before ho could proceed In personal "plralsrce Mr.
Dickens much resembles BIS faitfr from Ybo,e
work, ho reads and this fact together with the joyful
tumult of tho welcome, created for many PERSONS In
that a.scrnLlagc the Illusion that old and hairy
time had come back, and with IL the touch Of a
vanished hand and the sound % voice maj J. sllIF
Mr. Dickens had spoken but few sentences before
II became evident thai he vas possessed IL complete
mastery Of tho situation and Of his subject IL read
dr. Malig0dr and The trial scene from "PciwchT
His voice Is OF wide compass and remarkable refine
mont and d.licacy. His method, like that ~ h,
fa,her-whic indeed it closely rcsemb',~ j. absolutely
simple. but it is animated and guid,d 10y une Ine
dramatic purpose, and penetrated by an mite gene"
that "SccndS into every fibre Of character and glpW
through every felicity of phrase Ic did not attempt.
many readers vanly do. TO inpan different yoicc
10 every speaker, but he I-ciminaed between tho
various identities aud he married. the many change.
81 mood, Ly the true and right artistic mean Of
variety in his tones, Al the stage bu'ufea
with which his father accustomed t.
illustrate Or. MarigOlds narrative u-'d again by
him when, for example. he referred To the do "Lo
would give a howl-a bolt" the manner OF thr
crr,t novelist was 20 exactly IcpiOdnccd THAI he
seemed literally 10 live again.
But Mr.. Dickens I, 40 >cryil" Initiate II biz hilor
II wa, easy to perceive his perfect appreciation aAA"
Of the character pah0~ and luBior al what We -,
reading and e-pccla.ly his perception Of that m"1i,
80 cons p,c0us aud lighfn IN IN No'A> ~ lNh >,
the cNuni~te felicity Of humorous phrase H. ln-
nrrnon, his SgniIc shading OF h- EVid'. HI i-
ful use of the nOneniary pali,r AMI tho plp'lp1tt
carncstne-, and flc,zl0m with which Ia 2Dpi,t't''
and a.tains . climax are the povco and a'IlDi"'
Of a true artist. The natur" disclosed tAiUhgi a."
recalling furt hcrInorc. felt To- u" manly. >iWpH,
g.nfl. and full OF sweetnc,s Artistic capacity and
enuipluent have not. within long lc objection If
these matters, been shown with greater fore" OF NOR"
Winning modr,ty than were apparent Ia the oi'"t
with which Mr. Dickens. on this occd'iph, maze man
,clf known to the American public
H. cons Dcuou- success wa achieved a. hum,ii-i
In M ,,,,lculor ne (, brlll ant. ia pathOs how
eyer he has a Quer carnr- nr~s a sense thai inc
sad and touching thing derives no adddlohai po""F
from theatrical emphasis which !, deeply impre-iN'.
M. reading wa llnVPd viii close and lni'ir-tru ~
.ntion and frequently interrupted by happy labgl'i
and the applause al it, Close, when he added n Pew
words in gra flied Acknowledgment OF hi We ON.
set seal of public favor upon an uurquNofal hii
The tiugui-hcd character of the audience ii-h-
Lc especially rcma ked such a--cBDlas" 81 rep
IL e tattVc per -OnS T. seldom convened.